MAY 14, 2017

Emergent and Resurgent Microbial Threats to Human Health

WRITTEN BY: Carmen Leitch

While many infectious diseases have been eliminated or are perceived as being under control, we should not ignore new threats that may arise. This talk, which is presented by the American Society for Microbiology and given by James Hughes, MD, a Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine discusses more about the factors that give rise to this problem, and how scientists and societies are trying to deal with it (or failing to).

There are many examples of such diseases provided, for example cholera, which is well-known, or less well-known threats like hendra. You can take an in-depth look at how such diseases arise. There is also some reasoning behind why there has been a dramatic increase of the spread of such diseases, as well as the conditions that can help the disorders develop and then spread. For example third world food practices help foster an environment conducive to disease emergence, while international travel has become not only incredibly fast but very widespread geographically and very common. Learn more from the video.